Silence reigned over that section of the party as Kaede stood frozen, eyes wide and trembling as she stared at the boy in front of her.
"How... How are you here?" she whispered.
She took a cautious step forward, her heart thudding erratically. 'Is this a trick? He can’t be here. There’s no way this is real... right?'
"Who are you?" she demanded, voice unsteady. "You can’t be Kanade."
Kanade rose slowly from the bench, his muscles tense. His eyes never left hers.
"Answer !" Kaede shouted, her voice suddenly sharp, cutting through the atmosphere like a blade. A black shield shimred into existence on her left arm, and a ripple of pressure surged outward, causing the very ground of Tempest to tremble.
'Because if this is real... If he’s really here, if he was summoned too...'
Without warning, Kanade shot forward, so fast that only two others besides Kaede could track his movent.
Kaede raised her shield instinctively, ready to slam the edge down on his skull, but then she faltered.
'Then why did I assu that I was the only one? What have I been doing all these years...?'
Thud.
The impact struck her chest, as he collided with her, wrapping his arms around her tightly.
Kaede staggered, stunned, her shield slipping from her arm and vanishing as it hit the ground.
She felt his grip tighten, heard the trembling voice say, "Maple-san..."
"Is it really you?" Her own voice cracked as tears welled up. 'Why? Why did I never try to find any of them?'
"Yeah, Maple... Guild Master." Kanade’s voice broke, and tears stread down his face.
Overco, Kaede clutched him back just as fiercely. "Kanade!!" she cried, burying her face into his shoulder.
---
“So, you guys are from the sa world?” Rimuru asked, his voice slightly muffled as Shuna held him gently in her arms.
Kaede nodded eagerly, her smile so wide it nearly split her face. She sat snugly beside Kanade, hugging him for what must’ve been the seventh ti in the last four minutes.
Kanade chuckled softly, letting her cling to him like a plush toy. “Rember I told you I was Maple Tree’s Archmage?”
Benimaru gave a short nod. “Indeed. That was when you offered us your services.”
“Thanks again for that, my dude,” Rimuru added with a tired grin.
“Well, that’s because Kaede and I were in the sa guild back in the VRMMO ga we played, New World Online,” Kanade said, his tone soft with nostalgia.
Kaede glanced sideways at him, still smiling, though a small crease of frustration crossed her brow. “I still can’t believe Falmuth summoned you too. After I was gone…”
Kanade’s expression darkened slightly. “Imagine my shock when I found out that the ‘Kaede’ who betrayed Falmuth and was supposedly destroyed as a warning… was the sa Maple who vanished from our world a year ago.”
His hands clenched slightly at the mory. “I nearly wiped Falmuth off the map the mont I figured it out.”
“I see no reason why we shouldn’t,” Kirara said calmly, tilting her head, arms crossed. “It's not like they don't deserve it. Falmuth doesn’t seem the type to stop summoning otherworlders anyti soon.”
“From what I was able to observe of the king’s behavior,” Soei added, stepping forward with his usual calm precision, “the chances of Falmuth continuing such summonings are extrely high. That spells trouble for Tempest, considering their hostility toward both this nation and Maple Tree.”
His eyes flicked between Kaede, Kanade, and Kirara.
“Otherworlders have proven to be exceptionally powerful… including you, my lord,” he finished, bowing slightly to Rimuru.
“I an, technically I’m a reincarnator, but yeah… I get your point.” Rimuru sighed and rubbed the back of his head. “We might not have a choice. We may need to take Falmuth down for good.”
“Hn,” Kaede smirked, a glint in her eye. “I think I’ll let Tempest handle that one. Could be fun watching you guys pick up a vassal state or two.”
She laughed, the warmth of reunion still fresh in her chest.
“Wha!” Rimuru jolted. “I’m not conquering a human nation! That’ll just make us look even worse in the eyes of the other countries. We’re trying to co off as reasonable, not like mindless monsters!”
Kaede laughed, folding her arms smugly. “What’s there to worry about? Both Maple Tree and Tempest are led by humans, well…” She glanced at Rimuru’s blob-like form. “Human-ish, anyway.”
“Are you sure you’re not describing yourself, Kaede-san?” Rimuru deadpanned, narrowing his eyes.
Kaede stick her tongue out childishly. Almost imdiately, her deanor changed. "I'm serious though, Rimuru. Either deal with Falmuth, or if they pull another stunt again, I will. And this ti, you will give them no quarter."
---
Elsewhere, during a more private gathering, Momiji stood nervously in front of her father, her cheeks flushed red as she gestured toward the quiet girl at her side.
“A-And Father… this is… well, this is Lady Ari. She and I are… e-engaged, and we’ll be wed soon.”
“Hohoho,” Hakurou chuckled, clearly amused. “Is that so? It’s nice to et you, young lady.”
Ari straightened imdiately, her composed deanor kicking in despite the nervous glint in her eyes. “It’s an honor to et an esteed sword savant such as yourself, Sir Hakurou. As Momiji ntioned, she and I are to be wed, and it would an a great deal to us if you would attend the ceremony.”
Hakurou gave a warm smile. “There’s no need to be so formal with , Lady Ari. As my daughter’s future spouse, you’re practically family already.”
“Thank you,” Ari said with a respectful nod. “In that case, I suppose it’s alright for you to address as Ari, then… Father-in-law.”
“It’s not quite the sa,” Hakurou said with a chuckle. “But perhaps… in a more private setting.”
---
Back at the main gathering, Kaede hugged Kanade once again before sitting back with a smile, her tone turning more serious. “So, Kanade… tell what’s been happening since I left. How is everyone? How’s… Risa?”
Kanade leaned back, letting out a long breath. “Honestly? Things were chaotic after you vanished. Everyone was worried sick. Risa… she wasn’t the sa. It hit her really hard. She barely left her house for weeks. We did what we could to support her, but it was tough, especially since her exams were coming up. Her parents were panicking, thinking she might have to repeat the year.”
Kaede’s smile faded, pain etching across her face. “I can’t believe Risa went through all that…”
Kanade nodded solemnly. “Yeah… and then, we lost Iz.”
“What!?” Kaede shot upright, her voice cracked. “Iz!?”
Kanade looked down. “It was a hit and run. We never found the driver. She didn’t make it.”
Kaede covered her mouth, her eyes brimming with tears. “No… not Iz… Oh god, no…”
“Kuro was devastated,” Kanade whispered. “We all were. Two friends lost in less than three months…”
Kaede was already crying. “Why… why did this have to happen…”
Kanade took a shaky breath. “Risa ca to the funeral. A week later, she went back to school. I haven’t really kept tabs on Kuro since then, but I know the twins moved in with him and his little sister not long after. They got accepted into so high school, can’t rember the na, but instead of staying in the boarding dorms, they all moved into Kuro’s place since it was nearby.”
Kaede let out a shaky, bitter laugh, her smile laced with pain. “Good for them… I just… I can’t believe so much happened while I was gone. And I was here, so far away. There was nothing I could do to help anyone at all…”
Kanade put a hand on her shoulder, steady and warm. “We survived, Kaede. But we always hoped you were alive. And now you’re here.”
"I just wish I could see Risa again." Kaede whispered, the tears now drying up. "Or my parents, or the rest of Maple Tree. Even Payne. I miss them all so much."
Kirara placed her hand over Kaede's, and Kaede instinctively squeezed.
Kanade raised an eyebrow at this.
It took a mont for Kaede to realize what she had done as she drew her hand away from Kirara's quickly. "Ahem... I... I should introduce the two of you."
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